Original subtitles

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: It all began one night

when the lights went out.

[ Music playing ]

[ Screams ]

[ Chuckles ]

[ Sighs ]

LESLIE: How do I know? They just keep blowing.

GRAHAM: The circuit is overloaded.

It's your bloody exercise machine.

LESLIE: It's not my stair stepper.

I nearly got electrocuted last night.

This whole house needs rewiring.

LESLIE: We can't afford it.

Maybe with your raise.

My raise?

I wanted to do a surprise party for your promotion.

But the deposit check bounced at Mariella's.

The job isn't mine yet, Leslie.

LESLIE: Mariella's supposed to be

the only civilized caterer out here.

I said to her, "Mariella, it can't bounce.

It's one of the brown ones."

The money market.

Oh, Cathy!

And Jason.

Oh, doesn't anybody in this house

pay any attention to you?

Well, for God's sake, it's my account.

I said to her, "The green ones bounce.

"That's my husband's account.

My brown ones never bounce."

All right. Now, you children, run into the kitchen,

and grandma's gonna get you some breakfast.

LESLIE: Anyway, I practically had to beg her to take plastic,

and you know how backed up that is.

Arguing with Leslie about her money again?

Ah, Lillian!

As always, your timing is impeccable.

Oh, don't try to be so sarcastic.

I actually came over to congratulate you

-on your new... -Coffee shop.

Is it alright for us to have a little cup

before exercise class?

Oh, and that reminds me.

I remembered some more names for his surprise party.

LESLIE: Oh, fabulous.

Also, folding chairs, right?

-How many do we need, 250? -LILLIAN: No, a hundred...

LESLIE: By the way, did you call that...?

GRAHAM: Try to understand,

he'd always fancied himself a sorcerer

capable of fixing anything.

And now...

in his own house,

there were constant failures of power.

Good-bye, darling.

Love you, darling.

Slay the dragon, sweetheart.

If the sorcerer's house isn't his castle,

what is it?

Still, he was looking forward to his promotion.

He'd worked hard for many years

in the American corporate structure.

He'd earned it.

But the magic was just draining out of him

every time he got on that commuter train,

back and forth from the suburbs

every day.

Excuse me, please.

Every day.

You look fit today, George.

Ready to do battle?

It's all up for me, and I've done what I can for you.

Now let's just read our papers.

I think you're jumping your gun.

Oh, come on.

The whole point of these takeovers

is to sell off the assets

and put old farts like me out to pasture.

I can hear the fat lady singing, Graham.

I can hear her singing.

Space Invaders, Graham.

The new people,

all gadgets in the bottom line.

I hear you, George.

GEORGE: Stop them early,

or they'll run right over you.

We can be more efficient in such and such a program.

Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba...

It's all bull...

It's cold.

The mass firings in lobotomy

just melt the market dry and get out.

I mean, if our system wasn't any good,

why'd they take us over in the first place, right?

MAN: Hey, buddy.

Give me a buck, will you?

What do you make, a million a year?

Yeah, that's the way.

The city's getting to be like Calcutta.

Remember when New York was a pleasure?

GRAHAM: Ah.

Now, that was true.

New York wasn't what it used to be.

Stella.

Lend me $20.

I know I can win this.

I refuse to keep being the only practical person I know.

MAN: We have to win, babe, we have to win.

GRAHAM: Even in their summer dresses,

he scarcely noticed the temptations anymore.

God, he could remember when it was all he noticed.

He tried to remember that power he used to have over women

back in his dangerous days.

GEORGE: Your brain drain boys came over from England

in the '60s and '70s, I had no problem.

GRAHAM: Oh, I know.

GEORGE: I don't know, Graham.

Young Turks, hell.

Very efficient, he says to them as just a cover.

What was the name of that film,

the one about space invaders taking over living people?

"Pods."

"Pod people."

"Body Snatchers."

That's it, "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers."

Yeah, I saw that movie.

It's pretty happening.

Pods, pods, pods.

WOMAN: Graham!

Can we push J. Walter to 10:00?

Yeah, check with Frank. I think that's good.

You'll love this. Wonder Oats wants to kill the dog.

GRAHAM: Have we got the numbers back from the West Coast yet?

MAN: Not yet, they're supposed to get back by 4:00.

GRAHAM: Don't touch the dog.

-Graham? -GRAHAM: Yeah?

The results of the Great Kentucky Gelatin Wars.

Tell me they're not -- blame me.

They're not, Graham.

They blame me.

MELANIE: I knew you had a crush on somebody.

STELLA: Would you, for God's sake, behave yourself?

Stella, I don't know how to play this person,

and I don't know who she is.

It's not a role, it's a job.

A rent-paying job. Now, come on.

I wanna introduce you to the boss.

MAN: David, David, yeah?

Would you bring this over to John?

MAN 2: Sure, you got it.

WOMAN: Graham Marshall's office.

Yes, I'll be happy to take your message.

-Graham. -BOB: Graham, hi.

Excuse me a moment.

Have a look at this.

The number crunchers designed it,

but the thinking basically is mine.

What is this?

A program that projects survey responses

from pre-processed data.

Oh, that's great, but what is this?

It makes it unnecessary to go back to the public

with a new release.

It predicts how they'll react.

Does it buy the product for me?

Well, not yet.

Bring it back when it does, and we'll do lunch.

Graham, seriously, this has huge cost-cutting...

Later, Bob.

I'm sorry, Stella.

Thanks, Graham.

I just wanted to introduce you to Melanie O'Conner.

Do you remember I told you about her, my roommate?

Mr. Marshall, I just want to take this opportunity

to thank you for the job.

I'm sure you'll do just fine.

Stella will take you over to personnel,

and she'll put you to work, okay?

MELANIE: My resume.

He's nice.

WOMAN: Graham...

Peter Reynolds and Beatrice called

with congratulations.

That's nice.

[ Laughing ]

GRAHAM: Bob.

-About that thing... -Forget about this.

There's something more important.

As spokesman for some of the younger Turks,

I'm supposed to invite you to lunch

in celebration of your approaching greatness.

Oh, it's... today.

Come on, executive bonding, raucous, unfunny jokes,

and we'll kiss your... in hopes you'll mistake it for affection.

How degrading for you.

I'll be there. What time?

12:30?

-All right. -Bring your ass.

[ Laughing ]

See you at the elevators.

-12:30. -Roger.

You got it.

[ Phone ringing ]

Marshall.

STELLA: Graham.

Stella.

Thanks again for the job for Melanie.

She'll make a great receptionist.

She's got an outgoing personality.

And congratulations,

I heard you're gonna replace Mr. Brewster.

It's about time.

Yes, I guess it is at that.

Just about time.

MAN: Jones has got to announce a promotion Friday.

That's what I heard, Friday.

It's the least they can do.

Give you a couple of days to celebrate.

Two glorious days, three fun-filled nights.

And how will you fill those fun-filled nights,

Mr. Marshall?

Well, right now, I'm planning to have the wife's mother over

to berate me for not letting her live with us.

[ Whistles ]

GRAHAM: It'd be my choice.

That reminds me.

We're putting the boat in this weekend.

Oh, and we forgot ours, didn't we?

-Aw. Aw. -Oh.

Tara is coming out to the house.

GRAHAM: Tara?

What kind of a name is that?

Her last name is Ra-Boom-De-Ay.

[ Laughing ]

[ All singing ]

GRAHAM: The man is dating a plantation.

Gentlemen, gentlemen, you don't understand.

We are the young, the proud,

we shouldn't be ashamed of success.

We should say, "Yes, I have a boat.

"I have a country home.

I have a girlfriend named Tara."

Say it with me brothers.

I do have a Mercedes.

I have a condo with a pool.

I have a personal sports trainer.

I have a wife,

a mortgage, and two dogs.

-ALL: Hmm. -BOB: Very sad.

MAN: God bless and keep the old-fashioned family.

-Hear, hear. -Hear.

[ Crowd chatter ]

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: So there it was, his promotion.

[ Horn honking ]

GRAHAM: The climax of his business life.

This was as good as it would get.

[ Crowd chatter ]

Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay.

Jeez!

MAN: What the hell is the matter?

-MAN: Pooh-pooh. -MAN: Where's everybody else?

MAN: What is going on here?

GEORGE: Graham...

Can I speak to you for a second?

What the hell is going on out there, George?

Did somebody die, or lose money,

or something?

They're asking me to get out early.

Oh, I'm sorry, George.

I mean, I wanted this spot, but...

not this way.

I don't want you to take this the wrong way, Graham.

I certainly want you to stay on, it's just...

they felt when it came to head of department...

What?

Felt what?

There's a general opinion that you weren't

in somehow with the new program, that you were...

What are you telling me, George?

You didn't get it, Graham.

You're not the one.

You're kidding me.

GEORGE: I'm sorry, Graham.

That was...

I don't believe this.

Those...!

GEORGE: It's a whole new ballgame, pal.

Who got it, George?

Who's the new head?

Well, uh...

Benham.

Robert Benham.

[ Laughing ]

Benham?

[ Laughing ]

Hail the conquering hero.

God, help us all.

[ Music playing ]

MAN: Spare some change?

No. Go away.

Come on, boy, give me some change.

Did you hear me? I said, go away!

You know, I could teach you a little something

about being a gentleman.

What the...?

Whoa!

MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, your attention, please.

This train is being taken out of service.

All passengers must leave the train immediately.

Attention, please.

All passengers must leave the train immediately.

Your cooperation is needed.

[ Crowd chatter ]

[ Sirens wailing ]

GRAHAM: Had he really killed a man?

He wanted to run away from himself

as if he'd split into two pieces,

him and the murderer.

[ Tires screeching ]

Hey, hey, I'm off duty.

Grand Central Station, please.

MAN: All right.

GRAHAM: He must be in shock.

This rush, this adrenaline, the fear...

Oh, Christ, the fear!

[ Coughs ]

You left early.

I couldn't take it either.

I hope to hell there's a bar car.

[ Music playing ]

I don't know, Graham. For me,

the fun went out the minute after Wendy died.

There's never any good really after that.

Your wife, your health.

That's the real stuff.

A guy like Benham,

okay, he's smart, he's ambitious...

GRAHAM: His shirt was torn.

He must've killed a man.

GEORGE: Do you know?

See, you're more like me, Graham,

someone who understands that flesh and blood, human life,

you know,

it's precious.

That's the thing, life.

LESLIE: Murder, Graham.

What?

Do you wanna talk about a day that has been absolute murder?

But the good news is I finally got Mariella

to take a post-dated brown check

so your surprise party is a definite, after all.

Look what you did, Mr. McFuddlehead.

That's a perfectly good shirt you threw away.

It's torn.

LESLIE: Well, maybe Esmeralda can sew it.

Oh, Mr. Martelli, he came next.

I was working out on my stair stepper,

and all of a sudden, [ Whistling noise ]

it jammed. I banged my shin,

and every air conditioner in the house went off.

It's that damn fuse box again.

That's just what Mr. Martelli said.

Except somehow, when he said it, it cost $153.

We've got to economize, Leslie.

What was I--? Oh, the shirt.

That's what it was.

Yeah, he said there's probably a short

in the stair stepper.

I don't see any rip.

Oh, I thought there was one.

Honestly, Graham,

what is the matter with you tonight?

Me? Nothing.

[ Giggles ]

[ Horn honking ]

ALICE: Graham, Bob Benham wants to see you.

GRAHAM: Fine.

[ Phone ringing ]

GRAHAM: Mister Bob.

Sir Robert.

Graham, he's in George's office today.

Ah, the Emperor Bob.

ALICE: Mr. Benham will meet him at the restaurant at 1:00.

Mm-hmm.

Good.

I'll tell him.

Okay.

I will.

BOB: This isn't exactly comfortable for me.

I know you wanted this job.

And I suppose, if we were rival princes,

I could just have you killed to save a lot of politics.

[ Chuckles ]

It's not that easy to kill someone

and get away with it.

I thought instead, it would be good

if we could get together this weekend.

Out at the house, you and Leslie,

me and Tara.

Oh, the actual Tara?

Yes, that would be nice, but...

Good.

We'll do a little sailing, a lot of eating,

and...

find the time to discuss the new order of things.

Graham, do you happen to have a light?

Yes, of course.

[ Horn honking ]

GRAHAM: He kept expecting

a bolt of lightning to come out of the sky

and strike him dead.

Hey, buddy...

Spare some change?

Thanks.

God bless you.

GRAHAM: But it never did.

All he felt was good,

clean,

free,

as if he'd taken a thousand- pound load off his back.

[ Music playing ]

**

* It's a feeling that I can't control*

**

* Only you and me*

* One strong nation*

* Sea to shining sea*

**

STELLA: Are we making this the 7:54 to 8:13?

Where did they get those numbers?

Everyone's so...

young.

Scotch rocks, please.

No, wait a minute,

I'll have something vibrant and youthful.

Do you want a Shirley Temple?

A light beer with a twist for him.

No, the Scotch should be fine.

I'll have a side order of bran flakes.

Who's that with Benham?

Where?

-GRAHAM: Over there. -STELLA: Oh.

That's Henry Park,

Mr. Computer from downstairs.

I bet he's drinking something vibrant

and youthful.

STELLA: You look very vibrant to me.

Well, I think it's rotten, Mr. Marshall.

The only reason you didn't get that job

is 'cause they didn't give it to you.

Well, I think you've handled it very gracefully,

and vibrant, too.

I haven't even told my wife yet.

You haven't? Graham, why not?

Dread, really.

It's gonna be a disaster.

Oh, that's ridiculous, these things happen.

Not to her husband, it doesn't.

Usually I just reach out my hand and obstacles disappear.

**

MAN: Great drink.

She thinks she's Mrs. Merlin.

Who?

GRAHAM: Merlin, the wizard, King Arthur.

LESLIE: Now, don't use the quiet voice, Graham,

it's just the same as yelling.

GRAHAM: It is too expensive to maintain, Leslie!

Don't yell at me. It's not the machine's fault.

I've never understood why you need a stair machine

when we have stairs!

Because I have to keep going up, silly.

If I had to keep going down,

I'd lose the whole aerobic benefit.

It's like a computer.

You're not turning it on right. You turn it on like this.

Well, that's very impressive, Mr. Einstein.

But aren't you supposed to scream booga, booga

or something?

Graham?

Well, I guess it's back to Mr. Martelli.

There isn't gonna be any Mr. Martelli.

I'm gonna flick a switch in the...

fuse box and all the lights will magically go on for free.

-LESLIE: Right. -GRAHAM: And you are gonna

follow me and you are gonna learn how to do it!

LESLIE: You know, there's lots of money

I don't spend around here.

Is this gonna take long?

There's that big check I saw for $2,157.

That is our mortgage.

And the big one that-- the $3,300 one?

That's our life insurance, Leslie.

Well,

it's not as though I don't pay my share of things

around here -- more than my share.

And anyway, you're finally getting a decent raise.

You know, I'm just beginning to feel

that there's a great big whole lot

of male chauvinist prejudice in operation here.

I mean, part of what helps you get ahead

is having a wife from a good family

who looks nice, and a house near George,

and all the proper things,

and you can't blame me

just because I signed the checks when really...

Leslie...

Come up here.

I want to show you how to fix the lights.

Oh, Graham.

-Come on. -Why don't...

-Do I need to know this? -Yes.

Yes, you do.

Get up.

Stand on the top box.

Get on there.

-Okay? Are you all right? -Yeah.

Now, put out your right hand

and get hold of that pipe very, very firmly.

LESLIE: Ooh, so filthy and wet.

Oh, yuck.

GRAHAM: It's important for your balance.

Right? Got a hold?

Now, reach out your left hand,

get a hold of that chain and pull down hard.

[ Music playing ]

Oh!

Oh, I see--

Oh, I see, here's the fuse box right here.

Ooh, my hands are all-- yuck.

I didn't get the job, Leslie.

LESLIE: Oh, I see, so, what do we do now?

Just--

What?

The promotion.

I didn't get it.

No, of course, you got it, Graham.

You always get it.

I'm sorry.

I know what it meant to you.

No, you don't, Graham.

I really don't think you do know how much it meant to me.

GRAHAM: That's when he realized

she was a witch.

For his survival,

he was going to have to get rid of her spell.

BOB: It's going down.

TARA: Oh, yeah.

BOB: Hey, what took you so long?

TARA: I hope the traffic wasn't terrible.

He missed the turn.

BOB: Graham. Leslie.

-LESLIE: Hello, Bob. -LESLIE: How are you?

This is Tara, not the plantation.

-TARA: How do you do? -Hello, Tara.

-This is Graham and Leslie. -Tara Liston from...

Ta-da.

Nice to meet you.

Shall we show them the ranch?

I think we have to.

Come on up.

GRAHAM: She was perfect.

He was perfect.

The house was perfect.

The boat was perfect.

The American dream.

BOB: She feels a bit small up top,

but she's surprisingly roomy for overnights.

Oh, I want one! I want one!

She cuts along at a jolly clip, too, doesn't she?

She jolly well does.

By golly.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

BOB: Oh, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

TARA: Graham,

could you give me a hand down here, please?

Oh, certainly.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

It's this gas, I just can't seem to...

-Let me try. -...get it.

GRAHAM: Oh.

TARA: Hmm.

-There. -Thank you, kind sir.

What department do you head at Gibb, Graham?

I'm in marketing, too.

Oh, I see, you're under Bob now?

Yeah.

[ Passionate moaning ]

[ Passionate moaning continues ]

GRAHAM: The power was draining out of him again.

He had to act.

LESLIE: Oh, oh!

BOB: I don't mean to speak ill of the dead, Graham,

but George was simply dealing with smoke signals and drums.

Our hackers can have the present hardware

linked in to nationally six months tops.

Great,

as long as we don't overextend ourselves.

I think it's exciting to plan so big.

I'd like you to be at that San Francisco convention

next week.

That should give you the real overview

of where we're headed.

What day next week?

Wednesday, I think.

The day of the head of departments meeting?

Yes, actually, yes.

I chair that meeting, Bob.

Well, actually,

you have chaired it in the past, Graham,

and, frankly, that's because George was too apathetic

to take care of it himself.

It is a meeting of department heads, after all.

Maybe we should talk this one over with George.

Oh, I cleared it with George.

LESLIE: Graham,

for goodness sake,

you have your lighter with you.

[ Music playing ]

LESLIE: I hope they got somebody around

who's getting a vacation.

Have a good time, sweetheart.

Do you remember the old days when we didn't have any money?

We said...

Oh, now, don't get all pitiful, Graham.

GRAHAM: I forgive you for failing, Graham.

LESLIE: Graham?

I forgive you for failing.

GRAHAM: Uh-huh.

By the way...

I fixed your stair stepper.

Oh, good.

Say bye-bye now.

Bye to daddy.

[ Music playing ]

Bye.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: He had no idea what was going to happen.

Actually, it was the first black magic

he'd ever even tried.

He was gambling with the fates, rolling the great dice.

MAN: Hostility is dissipated through distance,

and we have created what we termed

a wedge of accountability, such as we see here.

[ Music playing ]

Oh, darn it, Graham!

[ Music playing ]

[ Music playing ]

[ Phone ringing ]

Hello?

Mr. Marshall.

I'm afraid we have some very bad news for you.

An accident?

MAN: Easy, Joe, easy. Watch the rug.

MAN ON PHONE: Yes.

I'm very sorry.

Oh, my God.

What a shock.

[ Dog whimpering ]

LILLIAN: No.

Aren't you gonna say something?

Yes, of course.

Dearest, Leslie,

your mother...

and I have brought you to this spot

to share this last, private...

this moment of...

grief and pain.

Would you like to say something, Lillian?

No.

[ Coughing ]

[ Birds chirping ]

[ Dogs barking ]

Abracadabra!

Shalakazam!

Bye-bye, baby!

Boom!

[ Knocks on window ]

Oh, I'm the guy who called you in San Francisco.

I'm Larry Laker.

I'm with the Connecticut State Police.

Yeah.

If you'd rather, I'll come back later?

Oh, no, no.

Now is as good a time as any.

Can you help me out

with this crazy wiring on the socket?

And that stair machine,

if I had just...

Yeah, your mother-in-law

explained that to me, but, you know,

I do have this particular question about there

not being any dust on the electrical tape.

Electrical tape?

Yeah, you see, because being down in a basement,

everything, everything gets very dusty but the tape,

there weren't any dust on that.

-Yes? -Mr. Marshall...

I'm here to pick up Kathy and Jason.

Well, Jason just went around there.

I think Kathy followed him.

Boarding your dogs?

Yes, I'm looking for a place in town.

Oh, oh, it's a good thing I caught you, then,

because I really did have this question

about this electrical tape being down

in the basement like that.

I mean, everything is dusty down there,

and it's just this one piece is hanging loose,

it's got no dust on it.

Well, that's because I was down there before.

I saw this tape loosened, and I rewrapped it.

If I only had done a better job.

I-- don't be too hard on yourself.

These things happen.

As human as the next guy.

Well...

if there's nothing more,

I would like a little time to myself.

Oh, absolutely.

I just want to clear that up.

You go ahead and let the grieving process happen.

Thank you.

[ Graham singing ]

* Along*

* There'll be no more sobbing*

* Sweet sound*

[ Whistling ]

Oh, honey, that is really great coffee.

[ Elevator bell dings ]

Oh, Mr. Marshal,

I'm Bob Benham's new secretary.

And I just wanted to say

how sorry he was to hear about your wife.

-Thank you. -Mm-hmm.

MAN: Graham, oh, we missed you, buddy.

-Is Bob in yet? -Yes, he is.

Hi, Graham. Oh, I'm sorry,

I didn't get to send you a card yet about your wife.

Has Bobby gotten here yet?

Yes, but he's in his office and can't be disturbed.

MAN: Graham, can you believe this?

They just faxed me the true good numbers.

Oh, and listen, I'm sorry about your wife.

I appreciate it.

The true good numbers at last.

Great, let me have those, then.

Yeah, Bob just told me I should get them to him right away.

Do you know where he is?

No, I don't.

Why don't you try George's office?

Amy, has the big bad Bobby got a couple of minutes for me?

AMY: Oh, I'm not sure.

WOMAN: Yes, but he's with his decorator.

Graham.

I feel so bad.

I'm shocked.

Did you get my note?

Yes, thank you.

I just can't stop thinking about you.

Well, I am, as we say, in the grief business,

as well as can be expected.

Anyway, here's the artwork you wanted.

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Stella Anderson, she always comes through.

All right.

What if we had dinner?

I gave up. What if we had dinner?

Tonight.

-Tonight? -Uh-huh.

Okay.

Okay.

[ Music playing ]

STELLA: But, you know what I mean

about these pod people, these yuppies,

if you don't treat people the way they do,

they cut your manhood, and believe me,

there is nothing worse for a woman in business

than to have a man with questions,

which is-- this is like -- this Benham.

I mean, he thinks of people as though

they're made of Styrofoam,

-not as though they're -- -Human beings.

Which is the opposite of the way you treat people under you.

Sweet old Graham.

No, but you know what I mean.

I mean, Bob, for instance, would never appreciate Melanie.

Melanie?

You should see what she does to prepare for a role.

Bob Benham would just write her off as a loser,

which is why you didn't get George's job.

Because you wouldn't treat people the way they do.

You know, you are very perceptive.

You talk about people,

and you listen to other people talk,

but you never talk about yourself.

Why is that?

I guess I'm afraid you'll find me out.

Don't be afraid.

Good night.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: The world as they say

had become his oyster.

Now, he was going to pry it open.

Hi.

I will try and put this as politely as possible, Henry.

What are you doing in my office?

Bob says I'm supposed to help out

with the reorganization report.

Uh-huh.

Let me rephrase the question.

[ Yelling ] What are you doing in my office?

Bob just felt it was crazy not to have a computer in here.

It's not the computer!

It's you and your desk.

Look, Bob felt that...

I'll talk to Bob.

George?

What are you doing, George?

Oh, well,

Bob asked me to wait outside for a moment.

In the-- in the hall?

You're standing in the hall.

Yeah, well, he's busy, you know.

I didn't wanna make waves.

GRAHAM: What in the name of God

is Henry Park doing in my office?

Excuse us. This will just be a second.

I have to run anyway.

You'll get the estimates.

That decorator is harder to get an appointment with

than the mayor.

Tell me this is about something.

There is a man in my office.

I thought it would be more efficient to have you

and Henry working closer together.

It is my office!

It is the assistant chief's office!

It's still your office.

Why don't you bring Henry Park in here, huh?

-That's entirely... -Why don't you bring Melanie

in to make sure the phone gets answered?

Hell, we could bring in the whole damn New York Knicks

just to make sure your trash hits the basket?

How's that?

If I thought I needed an assistant to do my job.

Meaning what?

That I don't do my job?

Then, why don't you have me removed,

Bobby Boy?

Because you're too senior in the company

to be fired for anything less than gross insubordination.

So, you've decided to have me removed piece by piece?

A privilege here,

a responsibility there,

never enough to fight over,

just a subtle drain of power, right?

Well, let me tell you something, Bobster,

you don't know the first thing about power.

I have more power in this hand

than all of you know.

Get out of the goddamn hallway, George.

**

-GEORGE: Bobby Boy. -GRAHAM: George.

-Cheers. -GEORGE: Cheers.

MAN: Bob has really made a difference.

Look at this party.

I lie awake at night and pray he'll die.

GRAHAM: We are witnessing the making of a legend, George,

kind of thing that front covers are made of.

WOMAN: Congratulations, George.

Hi, hey, great. Thanks.

WOMAN: We'll miss you, George.

GEORGE: You know, you're right.

And he won't stop with just marketing or even with Gibb.

WOMAN: Don't get stepped on.

MAN: Hey, George, have a wonderful retirement.

GEORGE: Hey. Great, right.

WOMAN: Now you can go to your...

GEORGE: Retirement!

I thought we're gonna be dead in a year.

GRAHAM: He was getting ready to try the biggest trick

of his career.

[ Dogs barking ]

Beware

Beware

No one is safe

[ Chuckles ]

GRAHAM: Oh, you're not safe, my friend.

My old friend.

GEORGE: Not safe.

GRAHAM: Take it easy, George. Here we go.

GEORGE: Re-organization...

Your own report from your own office.

All right, all right.

Lie down, George.

Now, relax.

I got to call a cab.

[ Grunts ]

GRAHAM: George?

George?

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: Have a good year, George.

[ Music playing ]

Bob, Bob.

Bobster.

That bad, bad Bobby.

[ Music playing ]

Bobby Boy.

Bobby Baby.

[ Music playing ]

[ Police car siren ]

Bibbidi...

Bobbidi...

Boo.

[ Music playing ]

STELLA: It could be he thinks I'm too young.

MELANIE: He probably thought that...

you weren't interested.

God, you're probably right.

But I am interested. I do.

Give a clear signal.

-A clear signal. -That's all you can do.

You're right. You're absolutely right.

-It's a clear signal. -Hi, Graham!

Nice suit.

Hello, Melanie.

Stella, could I have a word with you?

[ Phone ringing ]

I didn't get a chance

to say good night to you at George's party.

Did you get drunk, dance in your underwear

and sing sea shanties?

Will you have dinner with me Saturday?

Yes.

I'll come by, like, 7:00?

I'll be, like, there.

GRAHAM: Every sorcerer needs an apprentice.

GRAHAM: Henry, Henry, Henry, Henry...

How is it hanging or clicking or bobbing...

or whatever it's supposed to do?

Not too bad.

GRAHAM: Good.

You know, I would very much like to see

this report we've been working on.

HENRY: Well, I don't know.

Bob told me to bring it out this weekend

so we can have a first look at it.

He wants it all hush-hush.

GRAHAM: Well, the thing is, Henry,

this isn't Bob's office.

It's mine.

And as my name is going to be on that report,

I would like to see it.

HENRY: Maybe you should talk to Bob.

GRAHAM: No, maybe you should talk to Bob,

because gross insubordination

could be the cause for your dismissal.

And I am asking you to show me that report.

HENRY: All right.

I'll talk to Bob.

GRAHAM: Good.

Hello.

Dr. Sims, please.

My name is George Brewster.

Abracadabra shalakazam.

Bye-bye, baby boom.

Oh, hello, Dr. Sims.

No, no. I'm fine.

I just like to renew my prescription

for Seconal.

Oh, oh, yeah. Well, I know I just had it refilled,

but I seem to have lost the bottle.

Yeah, yeah, I'm aware of the regulations.

No luck, huh?

Very well, I understand, doctor, yeah.

Good-bye.

Joe!

[ Music playing ]

Hi, Mr. Marshall.

Oh.

What can I get for you?

Can you get me some heavy downers,

something that will really make me sleep?

Hundred bucks.

Here by five o'clock.

You got it.

Thank you.

[ Music playing ]

Hello?

Hudson Rent-A-Car?

Yeah, yeah.

I'd like to rent a car Saturday.

Yeah.

My name is George Brewster.

I'm at the Gibb building.

I'll be paying with cash.

You have a record of my driver's license, yeah.

[ Phone ringing ]

-GRAHAM: Hello. -LILLIAN: Graham, is that you?

I know it's you, not your machine.

- I always get your machine. -Lillian...

LILLIAN: Well, where have you been?

Don't tell me you tried to call me back

because I know you did not.

What did you say?

GRAHAM: There's a bad connection, Lil.

You sound far away.

LILLIAN: I've been giving them this expensive...

Very far away.

LILLIAN: But I just can't afford...

Listen, Graham, they're your kids, you know.

You are being so rude, very rude.

I can't hear you at all now, Lil.

LILLIAN: I don't understand it either.

[ Music playing ]

Bibbidi, bobbidi, boom.

Unless, of course,

you would like to curse the darkness.

George gave me this.

Do you know why?

So that he would always have a light.

Oh, let's not think about George or anything sad right now.

I feel so happy.

Can't we just make the office go away...

like it never existed at all?

Phew.

What a lovely place.

It's bigger than I thought it would be.

Okay. Where's the booze?

In the kitchen.

What'll it be?

Oh...

Surprise me.

What about music? I have '60s, I have '80s.

I have Frank Sinatra. I have The Beatles.

Anything with a saxophone.

You got it.

[ Music playing ]

STELLA: What's our poison?

White wine.

[ Music playing ]

You're so beautiful, Stella.

After this.

After this.

[ Music playing ]

[ Gas hissing ]

[ Engine revs ]

[ Music playing ]

Thank you, Mr. Brewster.

[ Music playing ]

[ Seagull squawking ]

Come on, stop complaining, it's not that early.

You wanna get on the boat as soon as possible.

[ Engine revving ]

Graham?

Hmm?

Graham?

What?

I can't remember a thing from last night.

I can.

Hmm...

How was it for me?

Well...

You thought it was good.

Oh.

[ Seagull squawking ]

Just let me get her out of the channel,

then you can take the helm.

HENRY: All right.

BOB: There's some coffee down below if you want.

Great.

[ Music playing ]

Here, it gets stuck sometimes, take the tiller.

-HENRY: All right. -Just keep it going towards

that buoy over there, okay?

[ Stella moaning ]

[ Music playing ]

[ Moaning intensifies ]

[ Explosion ]

[ Stella gasping ]

That was magic.

Bibbidi.

Bobbidi.

Boo.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: He felt like one of those gods

who appeared to maidens in human form.

He knew he'd been great.

That's what always happens when people fall in love.

GRAHAM: Oh, Stella, such a sweet girl, really.

Didn't you think magicians could fall in love?

GRAHAM: He'd have to be sure to reward her

for being in the right place at the right time.

My father had it all figured it out.

He was a London bus driver.

When I was a boy,

he used to take me over the river to Mayfair,

where the rich people lived.

And he used to say to me,

"Son,

"there is no heaven,

"here is the closest you'll ever get.

"Life here is sweet,

"life back over there is hard.

So live over here, son."

[ Chuckling ]

WOMAN: In a freakish accident off the Connecticut shoreline

this morning, a privately owned sailboat

burst into flames and sank.

We spoke to Police Lt. Larry Laker

at the scene this afternoon.

Lieutenant, what exactly happened here?

The boat,

Tara's Dream, was demolished.

So it's gonna be very hard to determine

the precise cause of the explosion.

The investigation is continuing.

LAKER: The investigation is continuing.

I always say that.

What can I say,

We're tired and we have no clues?

Do you mind? I hate watching myself.

What do you think?

Well...

For a start, I think I need a new doorman.

Robert Benham died in that explosion.

We haven't released that yet,

but you're not surprised.

Well, you said the name of the boat on television,

I knew it was Bob's.

LARRY: He was your superior, wasn't he?

No, he was my boss.

Yeah, he was your boss, right.

Well, maybe you even get his job,

now that he's gone, huh?

Maybe.

You know,

sudden death hadn't been all bad to you.

What's that supposed to mean?

What do you think?

Where were you this morning?

You're questioning me?

Am I a suspect?

Where were you?

I spent the night

with a girl called Stella Anderson.

STELLA: Am I sure?

I apologize, very personal question.

Well, yes, actually, I was there, I'm sure, he...

We just need a witness to confirm his whereabouts.

May I come in?

DAVID: Bob Benham would've gone far.

I'm sure he did, w-- would've.

DAVID: But life goes on.

And more importantly, business goes on.

I need you to act as head

until the board decides on a replacement.

That doesn't bother you?

No, not at all.

DAVID: No hard feelings about Bob

getting the spot over you?

Oh, no, I believe the best man

always wins in the end.

Good. Well...

You better get back out there,

it's been a madhouse today,

and I need that reorganization report

Benham promised me.

I don't know these sailboats.

I think my Cessna is safer any time.

You fly a plane?

Every weekend.

WOMAN: John, can we speak to Michael?

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Let's not all panic.

You, you, and you panic, the rest stay calm.

[ Laughing ]

[ Champagne cork popping ]

STELLA: You've really wanted this promotion

for a long time, haven't you?

A man wants a lot of things.

You hate champagne?

I love champagne.

It's so strange, talking to that cop today

has left me with such a weird feeling.

GRAHAM: I don't think it's weird.

He's doing a good job.

If there's something wrong, I want to know about it,

don't you?

Cheers.

Would you like music?

I'd love some music.

[ Music playing ]

Oh...

STELLA: What?

It's my damn lighter.

I can't find it.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: Where the bloody hell is it?

[ Music playing ]

Here, Graham.

Great.

Matches.

Of course.

We mustn't let a little thing like this ruin our evening.

[ Phone ringing ]

[ Music playing ]

I took it upon myself to make some changes.

For all Bob Benham's undoubted skills,

cost-cutting was not one of his strong points.

I'm afraid there's still a considerable amount

of fat to be cut from this company.

So, do you mean you wanna reorganize

the entire marketing department?

GRAHAM: Yes.

DAVID: It's funny.

I had the wrong take on you, Marshall.

I had you pegged as one of George Brewster's

"Hold the Fort" boys.

[ Laughing ]

[ Music playing ]

You mean extra weight in personnel?

There's got to be...

-LT. LAKER: ...on mine and... -DAVID: That's it, you think?

Somebody left a lighter in that rental car.

George Brewster says he didn't rent a car.

The rental company says he did.

Whatever, I don't know.

DAVID: Wanda, get Hocks, Kim, and Hartwell

into my office at 3:00 this afternoon.

You know, Graham, it's funny.

Until today, I never really noticed you.

We should get rid of anybody

that doesn't put the company first.

Now, this man is good.

He's got something to tell all of us.

Ms. Anderson,

listen,

it's not personal.

It's just we really need to establish

-this alibi for Marshall. -An alibi?

I told you he was there at my house Saturday night,

all night.

What can I say?

-Okay. -Okay, I have to go to work.

Yeah, listen, I wanna give you my number.

You're in New York, I'm in New York right now,

and I'd like you to have it.

Fine.

I really mean it

when I say, "Be careful."

Bye, thanks.

[ Phone ringing ]

-Marshall. -STELLA: Graham.

-Hi, Stella. -STELLA: I was just wondering.

I won't take too much time,

but did you find your lighter last night?

GRAHAM: Uhh... yeah.

It was under the sofa.

Now, stop distracting me.

Bye, Stella.

Stella?

Stella, does George Brewster ever come into the office?

'Cause he just got a package,

and I don't see his address here on the--

Oh, Mr. Marshall,

there's a message from Mr. Jones.

GRAHAM: Thank you.

STELLA: Executives are always on pink slips,

so he'll be in this one.

MELANIE: I put them in the right place.

STELLA: Let's see. Brewster, Brewster, Brewster...

There.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: Would you please tell Mr. Jones' secretary

I can make lunch?

Certainly will.

[ Music playing ]

Oh, boy.

You, you, and you, panic.

The rest of you, stay calm.

[ Music playing ]

[ Indistinct chatter ]

WOMAN: Thanks, Joe.

[ Music playing ]

Melanie, you have a package for George Brewster,

and Graham said he'd be happy to deliver it.

[ Music playing ]

STELLA: Joe.

What an idiot.

Wrong one.

JOE: No big deal.

[ Music playing ]

[ Indistinct chatter ]

Stella, I'm out of here.

How late are you gonna stay?

Not too much longer.

Didn't Joe pick up this package?

I'm sure you can get these numbers

for the morning, Wanda.

It will be tight.

Give it a try.

Good night.

MAN: So, when am I supposed to meet...

Taking work home, Melanie?

Oh, no, I'm just gonna mail this.

GRAHAM: Oh.

[ Music playing ]

Yes, I had a question about the Bob Benham case.

[ Music playing ]

MELANIE: I don't usually have the boss over.

Of course, you've been here before.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: He almost laughed aloud.

His powers had been switched on

to the point no woman could resist him.

Beers are in the refrigerator.

Thank you.

MELANIE: I'm sorry to take so long.

I'll be right out.

Did you find it?

What?

MELANIE: Did you find the beer?

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: It took every ounce of his self-control

to stop himself from--

to remind himself he had come for that

damn lighter package.

You know, Melanie, I've just remembered,

I've got quite a lot of work to do tonight,

so I think I'll be going.

Oh, I'll, um...

I'll post these letters for you on the way home.

LT. LAKER: No, just take the train.

I'll be right there.

Then can I come by your place to pick it up?

Right away.

Stella.

[ Music playing ]

[ Engine revs ]

[ Wheels screeching ]

[ Siren blaring ]

[ Music playing ]

Stella.

Graham.

[ Gasps ]

I think you have my lighter.

I called the cop.

I called Laker.

He's coming.

You betrayed me.

Graham...

You killed your wife, didn't you?

You did.

You killed your wife. You killed Benham.

That's why he was asking me all those questions.

That's why I couldn't remember anything on Saturday.

Oh, God.

[ Sobs ]

You betrayed the magic.

Magic?

Magic?

I trusted you.

[ Sobs ]

Give me the lighter.

[ Music playing ]

GRAHAM: She'd felt his power.

She'd never testify against him now.

And besides, there was no evidence.

She was a terrific girl, Stella.

Very loyal.

I felt badly for her, but it couldn't be helped.

[ Music playing ]

Help a guy out, buddy?

[ Car honking ]

God bless you.

GRAHAM: Poor Lt. Laker.

All hunches and circumstantial evidence.

Not even enough to keep me in jail overnight.

Ah!

Good evening, lieutenant.

And what is it this time?

I was untouchable.

MAN: Hey, wake up.

GRAHAM: And there, of course, there was the unexpected,

and, I must say regrettable, suicide of George Brewster.

It completely demolished whatever case

Laker might have tried to put together.

Poor old George,

he just couldn't adapt to the new people.

I, on the other hand, had beaten them

at their own system

and subsequently rose rather effortlessly,

floating up from mere marketing

through the corridors of policy and onto the board,

and along the way, promoting Stella

to the Los Angeles office.

There was only one tiresome detail.

Jones.

He just wouldn't let go of that corner office.

[ Airplane engine whirring ]

[ Airplane engine sputtering ]

GRAHAM: Abracadabra...

shalakazam.

Bye-bye, baby.

[ Explosion ]

GRAHAM: Boom.

[ Music playing ]